Implementation of Integrated Pest and Disease Management in Greenhouses: From Research to the Consumer

Chapters 6 to 15 in this book provide a complete view of the feasibility of Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) in protected crops. Within the framework of an advanced sustainable production system, IPDM is the primary response for the growers facing consumer demands of high quality products while at the same time addressing environmental, health/safety and socio-economic issues. Most examples of successful IPDM commercial systems have started with appropriate planning of the necessary research. However, the fact that researchers have developed an IPDM programme does not necessarily mean that growers will automatically implement it. In this chapter, we have summarized the entire process to transfer the innovative knowledge from research to practical application, with special emphasis on the application of biological control (BC) of pests and diseases and the commercial development of biological control agents (BCAs).